What to do with leafy greens

Thankfully we got up in time to get to church before it started. One couple brought their three young kids to be baptized. The kids were so eager that it was heart-warming. I was tempted to take pictures but resisted in case it was not appropriate. After the service, Nancy and I talked while Chris and Rick talked, for almost an hour. Then we went to the commissary. Along with the usual groceries I got a nice bunch of kale. I wanted to try a new recipe for the quilt meeting tomorrow. The recipe was on my computer but I kept getting side-tracked by e-mail. Around 4 Chris and Michele went to see a movie. I stayed home for some 'alone' time. I did some vaccuuming, exercising, and tapping. When they got back we had a beef and vegetable stew for supper. I finally had to google 'Kale Chips" to get the recipe. It is recommended that the kale be very dry, like from a salad spinner. Well, I didn't have one, so I put the kale in a colander and spun around. I only succeeded in getting making myself dizzy. So I shook it instead. When I got tired of the shaking, I spread half of the pieces out on a small cookie sheet and poured olive oil on them. I put them in the oven for 11 minutes, then took them out and sprinkled them with a little salt. They were crispy and actually tasty. Another recipe called for apple cider vinegar as well, so the second half got tossed with the vinegar and oil before baking. Those were even better. Hmmm, what other unsuspecting veggies might I use? I found some spinach in the fridge so in the oven it went. This time I also sprinkled some parmesan cheese over it. Although it wasn't as crisp, it was just as tasty.

A walk in good weather

Because Chris didn't get up early to go to work, I didn't wake up either, although I did hear him get up to play with the voices. I spent the morning listening to interviews and clearing out e-mail. After lunch, when the voices were finished, Chris and I drove to Gate 19 and walked to E-Mart to buy kimchi. It was a great day for walking. I was a little cold because I had been eating frozen blueberries. But by the time we got to E-Mart, I was fine. When I buy bulk kimchi they usually throw in something for free. Once it was a bottle of oil, this time it was a box marked 'spices' which turned out to contain half a dozen small pepper shakers. It was kind of funny because Chris doesn't like the flavor of black pepper. After we got back I took my 'new' sewing machine apart to fix the stitch-width control lever. It was an easy fix but getting the machine apart and back together was harder. It also has a problem with the presser foot not wanting to stay in the 'up' position, but I think fixing that requires a new part. Tension is also a problem. That disc may not be assembled correctly.
Chris fixed chicken and rice for supper and then we watched another Hornblower movie. Michele spent the afternoon doing the laundry. I guess we will fold it tomorrow. I still haven't heard all the interviews and many of them expire after 24 hours. But it is after midnight now and I just want to go to bed.

Sungshin folks come to Yongsan

When I got up, I took the new loaf of bread out of the machine, cut off two slices, and made Chris' sandwich. I treated myself to a Mozart session, deciding to make a new one with a longer track. I checked e-mail before having breakfast and discovered that Cathy was sick and needed my help. So I called her and agreed to meet her at 9:15 and to bring bread (which she was going to bring). I breakfasted and showered, then cut up my new loaf into half slices. I walked over to post, and drove the car to the AnC center to help Cathy take one quilt off and load another for demonstration purposes. While loading, we discovered flyers from the AnC center offering 2 hour edge-to-edge training sessions on the longarm for $50. I was floored because they had been so vocal about restricting use of the machine because if it broke, they couldn't fix it. Now anyone can sign up for lessons and use it on Sundays when there is no supervision? I don't get it.
Anyway, we had barely got the quilt loaded and basted when the Sungshin group showed up. Cathy was feeling better and she did a wonderful demo. Our visitors seemed impressed. Then the garrison people took them for a tour of the base. I quickly drove over to SPC to drop off the bread and see about setting up. But it was beautifully set up. Toniette asked about the group scrapbook and I had forgotten it. So I called Michele and she brought it to the gate. I drove as quickly over there as I could but traffic was slow. So I took a different route back. Luckily I did make it before the visitors showed up. We had to entertain them for half an hour until Col. Hall showed up. We explained QOV and Stork's Nest quilts. We showed them our personal quilts too. Col. Hall came then and spoke the requisite pleasantries. He handed each of them a coin (special thing). We sang "Happy Birthday" to him, and then he had to go to a party. But he came back to give us quilters each a special coin too. We treated our visitors to a carry-in lunch. We had gifts for them and they had gifts for us. They gave us a pen that is also a highlighter, Korean rice treats, and ties. After they left, we cleaned up and went home. I put the bread and bean salad in the fridge, then got some real food to fill up on. I cleared e-mail and laid down for awhile. I tried to read some more of the brain book, but kept thinking of e-mails I needed to send. Chris came home and fixed leftovers. We ate supper and watched a Hornblower movie and "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" from Netflix. Those birds were SO cute! Then I listened to a few more audios. Some very interesting ones are under Philosopher's Notes on youtube. He gives a 10 minute synopsis of a self-help book in each one.

Working in the dark

I got up early to make the sandwich, then went into the computer room for another Mozart session. But this one wasn't as good, because the track was short, so it kept cycling over and over for 50 minutes. I was quite tired of it by the end. But then I slept pretty well, until after 10. I went through my usual routine, and didn't get to the thrift shop until 12:30. I didn't mind being late because there would be more books to shelve. But there were very few, so Ella put me on cleaning detail. We were getting new shelving and it needed to be cleaned. Then the power went out. But we stayed and cleaned and put up shelves, and arranged shoes on them. Around 3:30 we packed up. I bought a book and 3 glass bowls (so I would have one for bean salad tomorrow). I dropped Ella's son off at the commissary, and parked at my gate. It is nice to have a car that runs. At home, I got on my computer to clear out e-mail and follow links. Then Chris came home. While he started supper I washed and packed one of the bowls, along with a can opener and two cans of bean salad. I grabbed all my stuff, and headed out for Chris's car. I took it to the SPC. In the kitchen I opened the cans, poured the contents into the bowl and covered it with plastic wrap. I put it in the fridge for tomorrow. Then I started setting up for class. Toniette came and helped, even though she couldn't stay. She made 10 red, white and blue rail fence blocks and quilted them. Several ladies came to class just to finish them off with binding. Cathy bought white mugs and chocolate and wove bookmarks. Deb brought wrapping plastic and ribbon. We made these items into little thank-you gifts for tomorrow. Melanie taught paper-piecing again. This time she was well-supplied with projects in progress to show each and every step. I think more people finished this time and took extra copies home to do another one. Everyone helped to clean up. I drove home and parked in my favorite spot. But it was so tight that I couldn't get out of the car. So I had to park somewhere else. I am really proud of myself for being able to back into such a tight space. Then I went to the apt to have supper. Bulgogi meat with crushed tomatoes and garlic. Mmmmm. I had more e-mails to clear. Some involve listening to interviews. There are 4 a day this week, and it is just too much to hear them all. One link taught me that wooden buildings are safest in an earthquake. If you are in bed, just roll off. There is usually a safe zone around the bed. Finally I went to make Chris' PBnJ but the bread was too short so I started another loaf.

A new addition to the family

I got up early to get Chris' sandwich only to discover that I had put it in his backpack already instead of in the fridge. So I went to have another Neuro session, this time with Mozart! I still did not want to get up. I tried some exercise to get the blood racing, but still felt like going back to bed. Then I had breakfast, which helped. I went through the night's e-mail. I cleared everything off of the table so I could wash the tablecloth. (There was a LOT on the table). I washed some other fabrics, too. While waiting for them to wash and dry, I listened to some more interviews with self-help experts. Michele went to post to meet Chris and they got money from the bank, walked in to Itaewon to exchange it for won, then went to a Korean bank to deposit it in an account for the university. On the way back they stopped for lunch (but didn't bring me anything).
I got a call from MaryAnn at the thrift shop. Someone had donated a sewing machine that didn't work, so she was to give it to charity and wanted me to come get it. I guess I am her favorite charity. So after I got the fabrics out of the dryer and ironed some of them, and re-dressed the table, I had some leftover soup. Then I headed to post where my car was sitting. I was hoping that since it was such a nice day, the car would start. But no, it needed a jump. So I called Chris, but he was busy, and I called a friend, but her car was incompatible. Just then a nice young man drove up and I asked him for a jump. He did, and then I drove around post for a while to pump up my battery. In doing so I drove by Chris' office and toyed with the idea of switching cars, leaving him the car with the bad battery. (MaryAnn said she would have.) I ended up at the thrift shop. She showed me the machine and I put it in my car. Since there were books piled up, I decided to stay for awhile and shelve. But that didn't take very long. I did a little shelve-reading, and straightening up. I helped AnneMarie prepare clothes to be priced. At 5 I checked my car to make sure it would start. Then called Chris to have him come pick up the machine. Hey, if he carries it home, he will take it up to the apt for me whereas I would have to walk it over the bridge from where I park my car. And God bless him, he did. I must mention that MaryAnn asked me why I didn't come yesterday. I told her that I had gone to bed with a headache and woken up with a headache so I stayed home. She told me I should have kicked him out of bed. Ha, ha. It was funny but not nice to Chris. Well, when he came by, she told it to HIM. I am glad my husband has a sense of humor. I worked until 6, then went home, parking on post by the gate. When I got home, Chris and Michele were watching a movie on TV. They werent' hungry so I had to make my OWN supper. (You can write messages of sympathy in the comment section). I made a BIG salad, enough for the rest of the week. I ate salad, an avocado, and some frozen cherries. We got some books in the mail and I started reading the first one: "Making a Good Brain Great". I only got through the first chapter though. Then it was time to take one last dash through the e-mail and post to my blog.

Have a headache? Read a book.

I had a hard time sleeping last night because of the headache. I have never liked taking medicine, so I didn't. Instead I thought of all the blessings I have in my life and eventually I did sleep. Because I made the sandwich before going to bed, in the morning I just got it out of the fridge and put it in his backpack. Then I went into the computer room. I found a Neuro session for headaches and listened to it. But no joy, so I tried another one. The headache stayed with me, so I didn't go anywhere. Instead I finished reading "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown. It was like going on vacation. I was transported into another life for the day. And it took my mind off of the pain. When I finished, I read through my e-mail and listed to some audios. I learned that some people increase their nerve strength by alternating their shower between hot and cold. This makes them less sensitive to extremes in outside temperatures. Sounds like a good way to ruin a relaxing shower. Then Chris wanted to use my computer for awhile. I salved the trauma of being separated from my computer by sewing strips for friendship blocks. I ran out of bobbin thread, so I wound 5 more. I learned that trick from Tina. Keeps me from having to wind bobbins all the time. My last act is to preview a new session using Mozart music as the backgound.
I didn't take any pics today so here is one of the parking garage, just FYI.

A quilt for Faithlift

I got up with Chris to make his sandwich, then went into the computer room to experience my latest Neuroprogrammer session. It put me to sleep and when I awoke, it was 8:30. I quickly showered and breakfasted, collected my stuff for our weekly quilt meeting and rushed over to post. Pam drove up as I showed my ID to the guard. Perfect timing. She drove us to the SPC, where Cathy S was waiting. We set up for sewing friendship blocks. When a fair number of ladies had arrived, Cathy spoke to the group about the Sungshin U people coming on Friday. We put together a list of foods for a carry-in meal, and an itinerary. Then Poncie spoke to the group about logging their volunteer hours. Finally I got to demonstrate how to make the blocks. While several ladies worked on that, I grabbed a piece of orange fabric from the closet to make a backing for the animal quilt top. Hannah saw it and told me she'd bought some and it washed very badly. So I decided to take it home and wash it before using it. It was so starched it had a plasticy feel to it. We took a break for lunch, then Toniette and I tried to find appropriate backings for several other QOV tops as well. The others packed up and left while we were doing that. Then she gave me a ride to my gate. I walked home slowly, enjoying the 50+ temperature. Back at the apartment, I had some real food and got on my computer. There were three new audios to listen to and I heard them all. Chris made twice baked potatoes for supper and put on another Hornblower movie. I watched the movie, then went back to my computer, only to find out that my Yahoo server is down again. So I sat on the couch to read a book called "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown. When I started to get a headache, I posted to my blog and went to bed.